Foods to Eat On Keto Diet

Christine Albury

Use our list of foods to eat on a keto diet to help you stay on track and achieve your weight loss goals!

You may have heard lots of people raving about the keto diet and how great it is for losing weight. So what exactly is involved in following this special diet that's grown so popular recently? And what foods are considered 'keto friendly'? 

What is Keto?

Keto - short for ketogenic - is a way of losing weight without experiencing the hunger that usually accompanies going on a diet.

This is achieved by bringing the body to a state of 'ketosis', where it stops using glucose to produce energy for the body and starts using something called 'ketones' instead. The liver produces ketones from fat, which is why this kind of diet is useful for weight loss.

Keto Sloppy Joes Photo

So how do you get your body to 'ketosis?'

You need to cut down on the amount of carbs you consume - by a LOT! In fact, keto experts suggest that only 5% of your calories each day should come from carbs! The rest should come from a mixture of protein and - to a lesser degree - nutritious fats.

So can I just cut out bread and pasta and be 'keto'?

Unfortunately not! Carbs are contained by many, many more foods than you may realize! And whereas many diets encourage you to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, keto doesn't because some produce is very high in carbohydrates!

Keto Sloppy Joes Picture

So what foods can I eat on a keto diet?

Fortunately, there are still plenty of tasty foods you can enjoy when trying to reach the state of 'ketosis' and start losing weight. The aim is to find foods that offer the most nutrients with the least carbs.

Here are some suggestions:

Vegetables

  • watercress 
  • celery
  • olives
  • cucumber
  • pak choi (or bok choy)
  • lettuce
  • mushrooms
  • spinach
  • asparagus
  • arugula (or rocket)
  • swiss chard
  • tomatoes
  • kale
  • cauliflower
  • bell peppers
  • zucchini
  • broccoli

Notice that you won't find any of your favorite root vegetables on this list! Unfortunately, that's because they tend to contain the most carbohydrates.

Keto Sloppy Joes Image

Fruits

  • avocado
  • berries (like strawberries, raspberries and blackberries)
  • olives
  • coconut
  • rhubarb
  • starfruit
  • cantaloupe
  • watermelon
  • plum
Keto No Bake Cookies Pic

Other keto-friendly foods

  • oily fish like sardines, salmon and mackerel
  • dark chocolate
  • cheese
  • butter and cream (yay!)
  • meat
  • poultry
  • eggs
  • cottage cheese
  • Greek yogurt
  • seeds
  • nuts

Keto-friendly recipes

Here are some tasty recipes to try that keep within the keto-friendly or low-carb guidelines...

Keto Sloppy Joes

Low Carb Lasagna

Keto Sugar Cookies

Keto Breakfast Bars

Keto Dressings

Keto Breakfast Bars Pic

Remember that eating 'keto' means cutting out a food group that you are probably used to eating on a regular basis, so it can cause digestive troubles or other health issues. It's a good idea to speak to a medical professional before started a ketogenic diet.

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Christine Albury

About Christine

I'm a mom of 5 and love making healthy baby food with wholesome, natural ingredients. In 2005 I started the Homemade Baby Food Recipes website, sharing recipes for everything from simple fruit purees to gourmet curries for the baby food connoisseur! You'll also find plenty of tried and tested tips to help encourage even the most reluctant diner to enjoy a wide range of nutritious new foods. If you enjoy cooking, then you will LOVE learning to become head chef for a very special little customer!